From:The Free Alabama MovementHarvest, AL – Aggressive actions and negligence over the past three months by Alabama prison officials have led to a rapid decline in the health of Kinetik Justice.

Robert Earl Council, a.k.a. Kinetik Justice, is a leading prison organizer with the Free Alabama Movement. He was convicted of capital murder by an all white jury for killing a man in self-defense in the early 90s. He has been highly politically active, and played crucial leadership roles in several acts of resistance in the last two years, most notably the nationwide prison strike that began on September 9th, 2016.

Kinetik’s most recent ordeal began with the “suicide” of Robert Deangelo Carter at Alabama’s Holman Correctional Facility on October 10, 2016. On that date Kinetik appears to have tweeted about the incident, “WE SCREAMED, WE KICKED, WE BANGED BUT NO ONE EVER CAME- in spite of telling the CERT TEAM4 times- He just HANGED.” Immediately after this, Kinetik was moved 100 miles away, to Kilby Correctional Institute, a facility notoriously referred to by prisoners and their supporters as a “bully unit.” Monique Gillum, policy strategist at the Southern Poverty Law Center, went to Kilby on October 12, 2016 to meet with Kinetik as part
of her investigation of what the Alabama Department of Corrections
referred to as Carter’s “apparent suicide.” Kilby staff simply told Gillum that Kinetik was not there.

Kinetik was moved again on October 21, 200 miles further, to Limestone
Correctional Facility. In protest of his unsafe conditions, Kinetik commenced a hunger strike: “I made it explicitly clear to officers at Limestone CF that due to exigent circumstances, I felt my life was in danger… Due to my expressed fear and my inability to see if my food was being tampered with, I began a ‘Hunger Strike Protest’ in order to bring attention to Limestone CF’s disregard for my safety and well being,” he says, in a letter dated November 5.

Kinetik notified Pastor Kenneth Glasgow (FAM spokesperson and founder of
“The Ordinary People Society”) that on October 27th, he informed a Nurse Haynes that the medical staff was failing or refusing to comply with the
federally mandated policy regarding Hunger Strikes. Bureau of Prisons Program Statement P5562.05 requires, among other things, checking the health vitals and psychological state of persons on hunger strike. Nurse Haynes replied, “You are doing this to yourself, so don’t complain.”

On October 30th, Kinetik was found unconscious and non-responsive in his
cell. Kinetik was taken to the infirmary, where a very low Blood Sugar
Count of 52 was determined to be the cause. Medical staff with Corizon Correctional Healthcare administered glucose and an Ensure drink in order to raise his Blood Sugar Count above 96. This forcible feeding “reset” Kinetik’s hunger strike against his will, whereby according to the BOP policy he would not have to be checked for another 72 hours. The next day, Warden Gordee ordered a still severely dehydrated Kinetik to
be placed in a “day cell” for observation. Day cells have no running water except for that in the toilet, no blanket, clothes, personal items, or reading material. By the order of a Dr. Robbins he was not to have his blood sugar checked unless he was “out of it.”

On December 2, at approximately 8:45 p.m., while in handcuffs and on the
way to the showers, Kinetik was shoved to the floor and pushed into a janitor’s closet by a CO Shoulders. Once inside the closet, Shoulders began choking Kinetik, while asking (rhetorically), “You gonna tell I&I on me too?” Then a CO Dozier said, “Hold up Shoulders, hold up,” reached around him and sprayed over half a can of mace directly into Kinetik’s eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. The spray was so strong that Shoulders got
up off of Kinetik coughing. Both officers ran out of the closet, leaving Kinetik laying on his back in a corner choking, and then called for backup. This entire incident was witnessed by 3 people already in the showers. Rather than reprimand the 2 officers, their supervisor, a Sgt. Whitfield, refused to let Kinetik make a phone call or file a complaint against the CO’s, and again placed him in a “day cell” where he remained
hidden for 5 days.

Despite all this, according to a recent visitor, “He’s quite an inspiration. Been in isolation for 37 months, has to wear shackles and belly chain during ‘exercise,’ but still strong and able to smile.”

Kinetik has filed repeated grievances to ensure his health and safety. FAM and IWOC (the Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee) call this an example of complete lack of regard by prison officials for people’s safety, and demand that he be relocated from Limestone Correctional Facility.

ABOUT The Free Alabama Movement is part of a network of groups whose objective is to provide online content, educational material, and support to family members, activists, and other organizations in furtherance of our efforts to connect the “FREEDOM MOVEMENT”, which is the National Movement Against Mass Incarceration and Prison Slavery, to Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas in the South, and California and Illinois. We promote legislation that is drafted by the men and women on the inside in each State in a document we call our “FREEDOM BILL”, with an emphasis on Education, Rehabilitation and Re-Entry Preparedness.

The Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee supports prisoners’ efforts to build their own labor union and organize for their own self-defense against inhumane treatment. We function as a liaison, building bridges between inside and outside to support prisoners organizing their local chapters. We advocate the abolition of incarceration, white supremacy, and capitalism.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois Speaker Michael J. Madigan is forming a bipartisan House task force to continue working on an equitable education funding formula and address questions a state commission recently left unanswered.

“The question of how Illinois funds our public schools is one that affects every community in our state,” Madigan said. “As such, the entire process for making formula changes – from crafting an overall outline for reform, to working through the specific details – needs to be carefully considered by legislators from across the state. This task force will continue House Democrats’ commitment to vetting these decisions and making sure all voices are heard.”

Madigan has appointed Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, as well as Reps. Linda Chapa LaVia, Fred Crespo, William Davis, Marcus Evans, Laura Fine, Jay Hoffman, Rita Mayfield, Emily McAsey, Michelle Mussman, Elgie Sims and Justin Slaughter to form an education funding reform task force along with House Republicans. The task force will continue the work of the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission, address unanswered questions in the commission’s final report, and continue to craft equitable school funding reform legislation.

House Democrats serving on the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission recently noted that aspects of the Commission’s final report failed to clearly reflect the group’s discussions. Amongst other concerns, the report did not properly recognize that Illinois’ current school funding system is broken, in large part, because of overreliance on property taxes and underfunding from the state. Illinois’ property tax dollars account for 67 percent of all education spending, while the nationwide average is 45 percent. Without reform that acknowledges this overreliance on property taxes, the current education funding system will continue to be regressive compared to states with less property tax reliance.

“House Democrats played a leading role on the Illinois School Funding Reform Commission, and successfully pushed the Commission to meet more frequently,” Currie said. “While the Commission did not accomplish everything it set out to do, it did show that a bipartisan group of lawmakers can work toward consensus on major issues. There are questions that remain unanswered and points that still need clarification. We look forward to continuing to work cooperatively on this important and complex issue.

Trump/Pence regime means a reign of TERROR on top of 400 years of hell for Black people!

The Revolutionary Communist Party has a plan to STOP this!

The Trump-Pence regime has seized on the horror of young Black people killing each other to make Chicago ground zero for an overall offensive against Black people. Trump issued a naked threat, “If Chicago doesn’t fix the horrible carnage going on, I will send in the Feds.”

In response the Central Committee of the RCP has issued a statement that is being distributed in the 10’s of thousands especially on the south and west sides of Chicago; the Revolution Club is opening an organizing center in South Shore with another office to open soon on the west side; Carl Dix* a founding member of the RCP has come to Chicago as a spokesperson for the RCP’s plan.

The RCP statement calls out Trump’s stone cold racist plan. “He promises jobs. In reality, his agents will dole out a few jobs… to buy people as his enforcers. Trump will pull more Black people into the oppressor army to kill other oppressed people. …But the sharp edge of Trump’s program is sending in the feds to restore ‘law and order.’ In reality this means that the masses of Black people will have no rights whatsoever.”

When Trump says “Make America Great Again” he means fascism, crimes against humanity including reinstating open white supremacy within America.

As Carl Dix points out, “What’s driving this is the system’s FEAR that Black people will stand up and resist, influencing others to open their eyes and begin to question the whole system. We have seen this historically and in the last couple of years. I have been part of the powerful upsurges against police murder of Black and Latino people that have rocked this country from Ferguson, Baltimore, to Baton Rouge and most recently in Mt Greenwood in Chicago.”

Bob Avakian of the RCP, the leader of the revolution, has charted a different plan: REVOLUTION. We have the leadership and strategy to see this through to victory and a blueprint for a new society, the Constitution for the New Socialist Republic in North America.

As the RCP statement says, “Right now, the revolution must join with all different kinds of people of many viewpoints to drive out the Trump-Pence fascist regime before it’s too late. We fight this now, urgently, as part of getting ready for revolution.”

The launch of the center in South Shore, 1857 E. 71st St., will be held on Sunday, February 26th at 3pm. The community is invited. For the press, Carl Dix is available for interviews. This center will be a place where those who are tired of seeing young Black people killed by other young people, who hate the way police unleash terror in our neighborhoods, who want to drive out the Trump-Pence regime and to see an end to all the horrors of this system can get connected with a plan and an organization that’s about doing all that.

* Carl Dix is a representative of the RCP. In 1970 he was part of the Fort Lewis 6, the largest mass refusal by US soldiers of orders to go to Vietnam, and he has spent decades struggling to end the exploitation and oppression this system enforces on humanity.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the Revolutionary Communist Party and not those of www.copylinemagazine.com.

LOS ANGELES, CA — The NAACP released the following statement regarding a donation made by Warren and Oveta Gardner:

The NAACP is honored and gratefully gives thanks to the memory of Mr. Warren Gardner and his devoted wife Oveta Gardner, who have given one of the largest ever single posthumous donations to the NAACP.

In addition to being lifetime members of the organization, Ms. Gardner bequeathed $736,330.32 after her passing last year, in memory of herself and her husband, who preceded her in death in 1992.

“This selfless gift from Oveta Gardner and Warren Gardnerexemplifies such a high-level of thoughtfulness and commitment to the cause of justice and freedom, that we are both amazed and humbled,” said NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks. “It not only confirms their commitment to the protection of civil rights during their lifetime, but is a gift that works to ensure those protections remain for future generations,”

Oveta Kellogg was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia, while Warren Gardner was born in Harlem, New York in Depression era. During World War II, she joined a nursing program at Hampton Institute – today’sHampton University, where she met Warren, who attended Hampton after enlisting in the U.S. Navy during the war.

After his graduation in 1947, the Gardner’smoved to New York and were married in 1949. Oveta became an office manager at an oil corporation and Warren attended Syracuse University, earning a master’s degree in journalism.

While at Syracuse, Warren wrote his thesis aboutthe NAACP, beginning a longtime connection and admiration with the civil rights association.His career in journalism later evolved into political advocacy, and Warren Gardener later served as an assistant press secretary forformer Governor, Presidential Candidate and PhilanthropistNelson Rockefeller. He later worked for the federal government as a director of communicationsuntil his retirement.

The Gardner’s only son, Douglas, died beforeOveta passed away at the age of 90 last year. According to their nephew, George Kellogg, the family was heavily involved with charities and fundraising during their lives which speaks for how big their hearts were.

The NAACP is humbled by the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Gardner for their lifelong support of the NAACP and are honored to share their story and salute their legacy of socially-conscious giving.”

CHICAGO, IL –In an effort to bring more accountability to police departments across the country U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL01) has introduced H.R. 1213 “Laquan McDonald Camera Act of 2017” which requires, as a condition on the receipt of federal funds, that states require law enforcement agencies to have in effect a policy regarding the use of body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras.

The legislation is named for a 17-year-old youth whose October 2014 killing by a Chicago police officer stunned the city and opened a Pandora’s Box of questions about the training and policies of the Chicago Police Department (CPD). Dashboard cameras on the night of the incident were disabled or not working properly. The bill seeks to penalize States with any law enforcement agency not in compliance by stripping them of 10 percent of its DOJ funding unless certification is provided to the U.S. Attorney General.

“This legislation seeks to restore some of the public’s trust in law enforcement at time when trust is at an all-time low due. There has been a wave of questionable police shootings that resulted in the deaths of unarmed citizens—or people who appeared to be of no threat at the time of the encounter,” said Rush. “Cases, such as Laquan McDonald, Mike Brown, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile are brutal illustrations on why we need a clear documentation of facts when citizen-encounters with police turn deadly.

“What’s the point of having body-cams or dashboard cameras if a cop fails to turn them on or the volume is off,” Rush said. “Having clear, enforceable policies protects both citizens and law enforcement officers when these incidents escalate.”

Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division released a scathing investigative report on the Chicago Police Department (CPD). It found reasonable cause to believe that CPD engages in a pattern or practice of using force, including deadly force, in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. The department found that CPD officers’ practices unnecessarily endanger themselves and result in unnecessary and avoidable uses of force. The pattern or practice results from systemic deficiencies in training and accountability, including the failure to train officers in de-escalation and the failure to conduct meaningful investigations of uses of force.

To be in compliance with the “Laquan McDonald Camera Act,” a State shall require each law enforcement agency of that State and of a unit of a local government of that State to have in effect a policy requiring and prescribing the conditions for the use of body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras by law enforcement officers of that agency, and to establish procedures providing for the effective enforcement of that policy.

As part of an overarching mission to build on its legacy for decades to come, Real Men Charities, Inc.’s co-founders, Kofi and Yvette Moyo, have appointed 27-year-old Ayinde Cartman as Executive Director. An organizer and artist with extensive experience in revitalizing communities and schools, Cartman succeeds Ms. Moyo, who will remain as Associate Director. To illustrate its forward vision, the Charities’ board added a carefully-selected group of new trustees. These leaders, like Cartman, are inspired by the Founders’ commitment to Real Men Cook’s goals and its evolving service dynamic. At the same time, they bring their own vision of growth that will enable Real Men Cook to thrive well into posterity.

Under the Moyos’ leadership, Real Men Charities has gained notoriety as one of the nation’s most successful organizations focused on building healthy families and communities. As executive director, Cartman is charged with building on the Moyos’ mission while expanding its youth reach, increasing its mentoring activities, and taking an even more actively-consistent role in the community.

Cartman, a graduate of Morehouse College, brings an impressive and diverse record of activism to his new role. He has almost a decade of experience organizing, mentoring youth and adults for a multitude of organizations and perfecting his talent as a performance artist.

After graduation, Cartman held poetry and theater sessions through After School Matters, and continues to uphold the importance of the arts with his teaching position with Alternatives Youth Services. As an organizer with Black Youth Project 100 (BYP 100), he was involved in street-team campaigns to raise the minimum wage for workers across the city, and cultivated strategies to build membership and involvement in community initiatives. He has also worked with Lawndale AMACHI Mentoring Program, building relationships with Black boys in need of guidance. Cartman’s participation in the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (AAPRP) gave him a cultural and political foundation of the African diaspora. His wide array of experiences and his proven accomplishments have gained him valuable national networks and resources that will help him in his new role.

He continues the dedication to Real Men Charities cultivated by his parents, who were longstanding members of Real Men Charities and supported the organization’s events and endeavors. Cartman gives particular credit to his late father Thabiti Cartman, a noted chiropractor, whose practice was devoted to wellness and healing.

In making the announcement, the Moyos chronicled Real Men Charities’ journey that was incorporated in 2003. It was created to serve as a charitable-organization umbrella for Real Men Cook, which is now entering its 28th year. Driven by the Moyos’ leadership, this signature event has evolved from a one-day celebration that showcases responsible fatherhood, to a year-round movement. It has centered much of its expanded effort on health awareness including childhood obesity, prostate cancer, diabetes, heart disease, HIV AIDS and other community health challenges. Real Men Charities’ national focus includes work on the White House Fatherhood and Male Responsibility initiatives.

Like the organization he is charged to lead, and inspired by his father’s example, Cartman is committed to promoting a threefold platform centered around revitalizing the state of wellness in Black men. Cartman has committed to using REAL MEN Comprehend, REAL MENding and REAL MENtality to “suffocate Chicago’s gun-violence by providing youth-led opportunities.”

In praising Cartman’s appointment, Ms. Moyo said: “Ayinde Cartman’s experiences make him uniquely qualified to seize the Real Men Cook reins while strengthening the Real Men Cook brand with an array of forward-thinking ideas.”

Rael Jackson, whose team led the Real Men Cook events for nearly a decade and serves as a member of Real Men Charities’ board of directors, also applauded Cartman’s selection.

The new members of the Real Men Charities’ board represent a cross section of leaders who are bound by their commitment to build a strong leadership foundation that will last for many generations. They join an existing board that has charted the organization’s growth. Each board member has a compelling story that underscores a passionate commitment to the community and to Real Men Cook. The complete list of board members and their bios can be accessed at http://www.realmencook.com/Board.html

Ms. Moyo said that the selection of Ayinde Cartman as executive director and the new board “build on a strong tradition of increasing, uplifting and celebrating the roles of Black men in the community. I am confident that the new leaders will steer the futures of countless male youth into brighter directions.”

Real Men Cook was conceived and launched in Chicago in 1990 by entrepreneurs Yvette Moyo and Kofi Moyo as a local Father’s Day family celebration. The original concept grew to being celebrated in as many as 13 cities and evolved into a national Father’s Day tradition. Real Men Cook’s success spawned the creation of a number of products including Real Men Cook Sweet Potato Pound Cake® and the book REAL MEN COOK. Formerly REAL MEN COOK: Rites, Rituals and Recipes for Living, the book was published by Simon & Schuster with a Foreword by then State Senator and now former president Barack Obama. The book highlights family celebrations around food and pays tribute to the participants. It includes a compilation of the favorite recipes of almost 100 of the nation’s– and Chicago’s –famous men. It is available for purchase on amazon.com

Photo: Ayinde Cartman, the newly appointed Executive Director of Real Men Charities

CHICAGO, IL – The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) and the Chicago Urban League today finalized a settlement agreement in the matter of the Chicago Urban League, et al. v. Illinois State Board of Education, pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The settlement agreement resolves this longstanding litigation by establishing how ISBE will proceed when the General Assembly fails to enact an appropriation sufficient to pay for all General State Aid (GSA) claims submitted by school districts.

In response to the settlement agreement, Illinois State Board of Education Chairman James T. Meeks issued the following statement:

“The case settled today addresses one of the many symptoms caused by the State’s education funding system that is failing Illinois’ students. ISBE deeply appreciates Governor Bruce Rauner and the General Assembly for their ongoing efforts to reform the core problem of Illinois’ inadequate and inequitable education funding system. ISBE will continue to base all of its decisions on the best interests of individual school districts and their students to ensure that the whole child receives a high-quality education in a safe, secure, and supportive educational environment. ISBE remains hopeful that the General Assembly will enact funding reform during this legislative session to guarantee that no students ever have to settle for less than they deserve.”

The Chicago Urban League filed the lawsuit in April 2008 challenging the constitutionality and equitability of the State’s education funding system. After the Court dismissed the State as a party and all constitutional claims, the Chicago Urban League specifically challenged ISBE’s use of “proration” during Fiscal Years 2013 through 2015. Specifically, in those years, when the General Assembly failed to appropriate sufficient funds to pay for the total amount of GSA owed to school districts, ISBE managed the shortfall by decreasing all school districts’ GSA payments by an equal across-the-board percentage. Expert witnesses for each party analyzed the Chicago Urban League’s claim and disagreed as to whether any disparity in funding caused by proration was significant.

ISBE has at all times denied any liability or wrongdoing in this lawsuit, and the parties agreed to settle to avoid the burden, costs, and distraction of continued litigation.

CHICAGO, IL – Community residents and affordable housing advocates counter-demonstrate against a hate-motivated protest directed towards an affordable housing proposal that will primarily serve low-income veterans, people with disabilities and low-wage families.

The counter-demonstration will challenge and confront the Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association’s and Northwest Side GOP’s hate-motivated campaign to stop this affordable housing, planned for 5150 Northwest Highway and developed by Full Circle Communities, from being built.

The Association and the local GOP are now back peddling on the core issues of their objections. These groups have asked their members to refrain now from using prejudiced and offensive messaging, and to frame their opposition to the housing as concerned primarily with density and building heights. The truth is there’s plenty showing the contrary such as:

Video streams of the February 9th community meeting, inside as well as outside where the opposition protested show an almost exclusive focus on fears about low income tenants

Photos of the protest show that the opposition to the proposal is largely motivated and stoked by coordinated misinformation with racist undertones. At their last event, demonstrators can be seen on video chanting “No Section 8!” as well as holding signs stating “Cabrini started as vet housing too!” and “Jeff Park is not Rogers Park”.

The opposition Change.org petition had its headline changed and the original headline under which opposition actually signed is attached and the comments on the petitions speak for themselves.

Mr. Bob Bank, the President of the Jefferson Park Neighborhood Association, himself has opined the coming of “Areni Green” [see attachment]

Mr. Matt Podgorsky, a leader of the Northwest Side GOP has encouraged people across the northwest side to oppose this housing though blatantly racist discourse about low income tenants [see 2 attachments].

While the Association and local GOP leaders deny the real motivations behind opposition to this project, not once have any of them denounced these documented actions or rhetoric. Indeed, they have peddled these very fears to wage a broader campaign for Republican aims on the Northwest Side.

A diverse coalition of community residents, disability activists and housing advocates will be congregating at the site of the protest to exemplify a contrasting welcoming message of tolerance and support for those in most need of developments like this one. As city numbers have indicated, 41.5% of Jefferson Park residents are rent burdened and in need of more affordable housing. Meaning, almost half of the neighborhood’s residents are paying over 30% of their income on housing. This project helps in efforts to alleviate such challenges local low-wage working families and seniors face. Beyond this, neighbors in Jefferson Park who want to see the Milwaukee Corridor revitalized know that the large vacant food processing plant this proposed housing would replace is what is truly driving away businesses and inviting crime, not a mixed income housing development. As housing wait lists continue to grow and as large numbers of Chicago residents go homeless this winter due to unmet housing needs, it can’t be afforded for developments like this one to be defeated. Supporters are diligent to ensure this development goes through and many others like it get built.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Hot off its 2016 record breaking Grandstand lineup, the Illinois State Fair is excited to announce five of the eleven headlining acts for the 2017 fair.

Chase Rice will be the headlining act on the Grandstand stage on Friday, August 11th. Chase Rice is a singer/songwriter who has toured the world with the likes of Kenny Chesney and Dierks Bentley. While he may be best known for his hit songs “Ready Set Roll,” and “Everybody We Know Does,” Chase Rice is also a talented songwriter. Rice co-wrote the song “Cruise” which was recorded by Florida Georgia Line and was dubbed the best-selling country digital song of all time in the United States in January 2014.

On Wednesday, August 16th the legendary group Alabama will perform on the Grandstand stage. The band broke a record that may never be duplicated by any musical genre by releasing 21 straight number one singles. The trio has 43 number one singles to their credit, nearly 200 industry awards, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and an exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame. The band, while still cranking out hits, has inspired many of today’s brightest stars, including Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan, Ed Sheeran and Jon Bon Jovi. Fairgoers of all ages will enjoy singing along with Alabama classics such as “Song of the South,” “I’m In a Hurry (And Don’t Know Why),” and “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band).”

Opening for Alabama on Wednesday, August 16 will be Neal McCoy. The veteran county music performer has 15 studio albums, 34 singles, and multiple humanitarian awards to his credit. McCoy has been on 15 USO Tours around the world and to this day states this act as one of his crowning achivements. He is best known for songs like, “No Doubt About It,” “Wink,” and “Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On.”

Also scheduled to perform at the 2017 Illinois State Fair is singer/songwriter/dancer Jason Derulo. The 27-year-old has already sold over 50 million singles worldwide and has worked alongside a variety of artists ranging from Demi Lovato to Snoop Dogg. Jason Derulo is best known for his songs “Talk Dirty,” “Whatcha Say,” and “Want to Want Me.” In addition, Derulo was honored in 2011 as BMI’s Songwriter of the Year. He has penned hits for artists such as Lil Wayne, Pitbull, Sean Kingston and others. Derulo will perform in Springfield on Thursday, August 17th.

Building on the successes from last year, the Illinois State Fair is bringing another heavy metal band to the Grandstand. On Saturday, August 19th fairgoers will have the opportunity to see Five Finger Death Punch perform on the Illinois State Fair’s biggest stage. The band recently wrapped up an Arena Tour where fans raved about the band’s over-the-top production value and crowd pleasing sets featuring songs like, “I Apologize,” and “Wrong Side of Heaven.” The band is also a supporter of the Badge of Honor Memorial Foundation often raising funds to help survivors and departments of officers who have been killed in the line of duty.

Closing out the 2017 Illinois State Fair on Sunday, August 20th will be Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, John Mellencamp. The iconic classic rocker has been cranking out hits and performing in front of live audiences for the last 40-years. While most known for songs like “Paper in Fire,” “Small Town,” and “Pink Houses,” Mellencamp was among the founding members of Farm Aid. The annual event, co-launched by Willie Nelson and Neil Young, helps make people aware of the issues facing farmers and how those issues impact the entire nation.

Stage Side Parties will again be offered for all Illinois State Fair concerts. An additional $30 ticket will provide fairgoers access to an exclusive pre-show party that includes a food buffet, beer and wine for purchase, entertainment, giveaways and early entry into the concert. The State Side Party ticket is only available to those who have purchased a ticket to attend that night’s concert.

Opening acts for the above concerts will be named at a later date. In addition, an on-sale date for the above mentioned acts will be announced at a later date, as will details of the 2017 concert packages offered by the Illinois State Fair.

As a reminder to fairgoers, Admission Bargain Booklets are available for purchase at the Emmerson Building on the Illinois State Fairgrounds. One booklet provides eleven any day adult admissions to the 2017 Illinois State Fair. These booklets are currently on sale for $55 for a limited time only. Bargain Booklets will increase to $60 March 1st. Again, these booklets can only be purchased at the Emmerson Building, either in person or by phone at (217) 782-6661.

The Illinois State Fair provides the ultimate entertainment for the young and the old. Whether you want to flip, spin, scramble or scream, the Carnival Midway and Adventure Village have a ride for you. The best way to enjoy these thrill seeking rides is to purchase an Illinois State Fair Mega Pass. A Mega Pass provides a fairgoer with unlimited rides all eleven days of the fair. The Mega Pass is on sale now through July 31st for just $70. These can be purchased at the Emmerson Building, either in person or by phone at (217) 782-6661, or through the state fair website, www.illinois.gov/statefair, just click on Rides and Attractions.

More details regarding ticket sales, special events and additional grandstand acts will be released in the coming weeks and months. To be the first to know about all of the 2017 Illinois State Fair announcements, you can also sign up for email updates on our website www.illinois.gov/statefair. We look forward to seeing you at the 2017 Illinois State Fair, August 10-20th in Springfield.

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Welcome to CopyLine Magazine! The first issue of CopyLine Magazine was published in November, 1990, by Editor & Publisher Juanita Bratcher. CopyLine’s main focus is on the political arena – to inform our readers and analyze many of the pressing issues of the day - controversial or otherwise. Our objectives are clear – to keep you abreast of political happenings and maneuvering in the political arena, by reporting and providing provocative commentaries on various issues. For more about CopyLine Magazine, CopyLine Blog, and CopyLine Television/Video, please visit juanitabratcher.com, copylinemagazine.com, and oneononetelevision.com. Bratcher has been a News/Reporter, Author, Publisher, and Journalist for 33 years. She is the author of six books, including “Harold: The Making of a Big City Mayor” (Harold Washington), Chicago’s first African-American mayor; and “Beyond the Boardroom: Empowering a New Generation of Leaders,” about John Herman Stroger, Jr., the first African-American elected President of the Cook County Board. Bratcher is also a Poet/Songwriter, with 17 records – produced by HillTop Records of Hollywood, California. Juanita Bratcher Publisher